Bonnyville Fire Authority fights multiple fires

The Bonnyville Regional Fire Authority (BRFA), has been battling multiple blazes over the past week, said Fire Chief Brian McEvoy. “The fires are all contained,” the chief assures.

“The fire just off Highway 55 is quite large, but we have it contained,” he explains that there are some spots that are smoldering. “The situation we have right now, is all of fires in the MD, that are active are contained. The two we have active are the fire in Elizabeth Métis Settlement and the fire north of the traffic circle off Highway 55.”

While fire crews work to contain the fires and help stop them from flaring up again, they ask that people do not ride off-road vehicles in the area. The vehicle are contributing to the damage, can spark another fire and are making it difficult for fire crews to work.

“Forestry crews are up there working,” McEvoy warns to stay clear of the fire fighting efforts.

There was a fire in Bonnyville on Saturday that BRFA responded to. McEvoy confirmed that fire was caused by a burn barrel, “that appears to be caused by a burn barrel that should not have been used. You cannot use burn barrels in town.”

BRFA responded to a trailer fire in Kehewin, over the weekend. “There were two houses lost,” confirms McEvoy. No information on how the fire started is available, at this time.

There is no fire ban, as of this publication, for the May Long weekend. McEvoy gives some advice, “we’re expecting an arctic flow to come through, that’s going to keep a lot of the humidity down. That’s going to make the fire conditions very high. People need to be extra cautious.”

Being cautious extends to ATV users, he explains, “be careful of build up on their exhaust systems, so they’e not causing fires as they are travelling behind them.”

“The upcoming long weekend, at this point, we don’t foresee a full fire ban. We are tightening restrictions and it looks like we are only allowing fires in approved fire pits,” fires will only be allowed in the Municipal District of Bonnyville in approved campfire pits. No new fire permits are being issued at this time.

The County of St. Paul has issued a level 2 fire advisory, cautioning for the same conditions and restrictions.